PennDOT - Introduction - PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services

IntroductionPA Driver’s ManualINTRODUCTIONThis manual is designed to help you become a safe driver. It presents many ofPennsylvania’s laws governing driving. It should be used as a general guide to thelaws but not as a substitute for the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, which contains thelaws affecting Pennsylvania’s drivers and vehicles. It should also be noted that theinformation contained in this manual is subject to change.The purpose of this manual is to prepare you to take the driver’s examination and toobtain a Pennsylvania driver’s license. However, the rules of the road and trafficoperation princi ples presented in this manual apply to the three types of vehiclesrecognized by Pennsylvania law: bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles and motor vehicles. Forexample, all bicyclists, just like motorists, are required to stop at red lights.If you are learning to drive, this manual will give you all the information you need tostudy for the driver’s examination. If you already have a Pennsylvania driver’s license,you can use this manual to review some of the rules of the road you may haveforgotten or to learn about some of the rules that may be new or have changed sinceyou received your license.IMPORTANTBefore taking your Knowledge Test, you must complete theNon-Commercial Learner's Permit Application (DL-180).If you are under the age of 18, you must complete theParent or Guardian Consent Form (DL-180TD)Both forms can be found on our website at www.dmv.state.pa.usunder the Forms and Publications link at the top of the pageDriving is a privilege and not a right. This privilege comes with many responsibilities.One very important responsibility is that you never mix drinking and driving.For the days and hours of operation at a Driver License Center nearest you,to download the most current forms, publications, and fact sheets orto access PennDOT’s online services, including scheduling yourOn-the-Road Skills Test, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Serviceswebsite at www.dmv.state.pa.usPlease read this manual carefully, learn and practicethe rules of the road in order to become a safe driver andenjoy your driving privilege in our beautiful state.Courtesy ofPennsylvania Department of TransportationTHIS PUBLICATION IS NOT FOR SALE- i -

Table of ContentsChapter 1 – Non-CommercialLearner’s Permit Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Applying for a Learner’s Permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Organ Donor Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Social Security Number Information . . . . . . . . 3Pennsylvania Vision Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . 3Who needs a Pennsylvania Driver’s License . 3Junior Learner’s Permit Information . . . . . . . . 3Junior Driver’s License Information. . . . . . . . . 3What Class of Driver’s License Do You Need. . . 4Classes of Driver’s Licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Knowledge Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Road Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Chapter 2 – Signals, Signs andPavement Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Red, Yellow and Green Traffic Lightsand Arrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Flashing Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Non-Functioning Traffic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Ramp-Metering Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Lane Use Control Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Pedestrian Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9School Zone Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Railroad Crossing Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Regulatory Signs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Warning Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Guide Signs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Pavement Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Chapter 2 Review Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Chapter 2 Review Answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Chapter 3 – Learning to Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Choosing Safety First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Vehicle Checks: Preparing to drive . . . . . . . . 31Driver Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Inattention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Health Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Alcohol and Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Drugs and Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Everyday Driving Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Managing Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Managing Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Snow and Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Turning, Merging and Passing . . . . . . . . . . . 43Negotiating Intersections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Negotiating Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Negotiating Highways and Interchanges. . . . 51Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Parallel Parking Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Table of ContentsPA Driver’s ManualSpecial Circumstances and Emergencies . . . . . 53Work Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Railroad Crossings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Sharing the Road with Pedestrians,Bicyclists, Motorcyclists/Moped Drivers . . . . 54Sharing the Road with Trucks and Buses. . . 55School Buses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Emergency Vehicles/Situations. . . . . . . . . . . 58Horse-Drawn Vehicles & Horseback Riders 58Passengers in an Open-Bed Truck . . . . . . . . 58Snow Plows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Dealing with Road Rage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Dealing with Driving Emergencies . . . . . . . . 59Funeral Procession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Chapter 3 Review Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Chapter 3 Review Answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76Chapter 4 – DrivingRecord Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77Pennsylvania’s Point System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77What To Do If You Are Stopped By Police . . 78Crashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Fleeing or Eluding Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Driving Under the Influence of Alcoholor a Controlled Substance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80Underage Drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Driver’s License Compact (DLC) . . . . . . . . . 82Chapter 4 Review Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Chapter 4 Review Answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Chapter 5 – Laws and Related Issues . . . . . . . . . . . 87Required Notification for Change inName or Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Seat Belt Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Child Restraint Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Air Bag Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) . . . . . . . . 89Parking Areas for Persons with Disabilities . . . . 89Anti-Littering Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection . . . . . . 90Steer Clear Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Headlight/Windshield Wiper Law . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Safe Passing (bicycles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Texting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices Warningof Hazardous Conditions Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Chapter 6 – References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Road Test and Special Point ExaminationAppointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Departmental Forms and Publications . . . . . . . . 93Statewide and County Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Information on Other Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93511PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93- ii -